HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-09-17 Town Council MinutesVail Town Council Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
6:00 P.M.
Vail Town Council Chambers
The regular meeting of the Vail Town Council was called to order at approximately 6:00
P.M. by Mayor Andy Daly.
Members present: Andy Daly, Mayor
Ludwig Kurz
Kevin Foley
Margaret Rogers
Susie Tjossem
Greg Moffet
Absent: Kerry Donovan
Staff members: Stan Zemler, Town Manager
Matt Mire, Town Attorney
Pam Brandmeyer, Assistant Town Manager
Tammy Nagel, Acting Town Clerk
The first item on the agenda was Citizen Participation. Kevin Foley offered
condolences to the Colorado flood victims. Stan Zemler, Town Manager, stated the
town had several police staff assisting the Front Range emergency responders.
There was no further public comment.
The second item on the agenda was the Consent Agenda.
1) Resolution No. 9, Series of 2013, a Resolution Establishing a Town of Vail Public
Records Policy; and Setting Forth Details in Regard Thereto. Moffet made a
motion to approve with a second from Rogers. Foley read the title in full. The
motion passed 6-0.
The third item on the agenda was the Town Manager Report.
1) Pedestrian Safety on Meadow Drive. Zemler said there have been many
changes over the past 6-7 years on Meadow Drive and it's necessary to review
the pedestrian/transit relationship. Zemler stated a third party may need to be
hired.
2) EGE Air Alliance letter of support. Kelli McDonald, Economic Development
Manager, is the town's representative at the EGE Air Alliance meetings.
McDonald stated EGE Air Alliance was requesting $200,000 from Eagle County
Town Council Meeting Minutes of September 17, 2013
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for funding additional flights, which is at the same funding level as last year.
McDonald requested approval from Council to sign on behalf of the town.
3) Winter parking update. Zemler said there will be no changes from last year. All
fees and restrictions for parking will remain the same from the 2012-2013 ski
season.
The fourth item on the agenda was a request for a public hearing to provide an update
to seek direction from the Vail Town Council on the site selection preference for the
proposed Betty Ford Alpine Garden Education Center. George Ruther, Community
Development Director, stated the Planning and Environmental Commission (PEC) has
made progress on the review of the proposed 2013 Gerald R. Ford Park Master Plan,
but the PEC is stumbling on the site selection of the proposed Betty Ford Alpine Garden
Education Center. The town staff has evaluated 7 possible sites for the education
center and based upon the criteria, the West Betty Ford Way site was found to be the
"preferred" site. Ruther said the PEC has requested that more analysis and discussion
occurs around the possibilities of co -locating the proposed Education Center with the
tennis center building site. Ruther also stated the issue is not that the West Betty Ford
Way site is unsuitable, but rather that the tennis center building site appears to be
better as the site is closer in proximity to transit and parking.
Daly stated there isn't anything that prevents the Council from including both sites in the
2013 Master Plan and this would be his recommendation.
Ruther stated one of the Council's goal's on the master plan is to find a location for the
Education Center and in fairness to the stakeholders there should be some direction.
Moffet stated he didn't want the town to be in the shotgun marriage business and in
fairness to the participants in the master plan and the folks affected by the master plan
that if we are excluding sites, the Council should be clear. If Council is amenable, then
he is comfortable including two sights.
Rogers stated it's not like the town hasn't had the opportunity to talk with the Vail
Recreation District (VRD) regarding the tennis center site because the PEC has invited
them to attend the meetings and the VRD has not shown up. Rogers went on to say
she has had a long conversation with VRD board member Ken Wilson, who said "no
way" to the Education Center coexisting with the tennis center. Rogers felt the mixed
uses would conflict with each other and she does not want to fight with VRD over the
tennis center. Rogers also stated that if there is a site that is already suitable for the
Education Center, then Council should go forward with designating one site.
Zemler provided Council with a brief update on the Recreation Subcommittee meeting
that was held earlier that day. Zemler said the VRD is open minded to some
conversation regarding the tennis center site, but funding is questionable. Zemler also
said there could be missed opportunities for both organizations.
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Tjossem suggested the VRD and Betty Ford Alpine Garden meet and have the
conversation before bringing it to the PEC.
Ruther stated the West Betty Ford Way site is the best location, but if there were
problems it would be good to have another option.
Rogers asked if VRD has no money and Betty Ford Alpine Garden cannot flip the bill,
who then pays. Would the town be responsible.
Ruther stated he was not advocating for a certain site. He suggested Council designate
the West Betty Ford Way site be the #1 site with the tennis center site as the #2
designated site just in case problems rise with the first site.
Daly requested public comment.
Jack Hunn, Betty Ford Alpine Garden representative, stated he has attended all the
PEC meetings and feels the PEC board is opposed to the West Betty Ford Way site.
The VRD is not interested in sharing costs for a tear down or an addition to the tennis
center. Hunn went on to say that it's a waste of time to have a conversation with an
unwilling partner. The West Betty Ford Way site is not perfect, but Betty Ford Alpine
Gardens wants to move forward. Hunn requested Council designate two or three sites
in the 2013 proposed master plan, but if only one site is was going to be designated,
then it should be the West Betty Ford Way.
Jim Lamont, Vail Homeowners Association representative, confirmed Hunn's
observations of the PEC being in opposition to the West Betty Ford Way site and
supports the idea of adding two or three potential sites to the proposed master plan.
With no further comments, Daly closed public comment.
Tjossem strongly encouraged the VRD and Betty Ford Alpine Garden to sit together to
go through the ideas.
Ruther stated he has $5000.00 in his budget assigned to having a conceptional design
review done for one site. Tjossem requested another $5000.00 be put towards having a
conceptional design review done on both sites. Zemler stated the PEC is requesting 2-
3 sites be designated in the proposed 2013 master plan. Zemler was concerned the
additional $5000.00 would make it look like the town is financing the project. A majority
of Council members agreed to not fund two conceptional design reviews.
Daly thought it was better served to declare three sites for the Education Center on the
master plan.
Rogers disagreed. She strongly feels there should only be one site designated and it
should be the West Betty Ford Way site. Roger worries that the Education Center will
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get lost and no site will be perfect. Rogers agreed with Hunn that it would be a waste of
energy to have a conversation with a stakeholder who does not want to consider the
tennis center site.
Ruther suggested designating the number 1 preferred choice be the West Betty Ford
Way site. Then designate two other sites so there are no missed opportunities.
Lamont approached the podium again and stated the VRD does not have to tear down
the tennis center but can do a tactful addition.
Rogers said when she spoke with VRD board member Ken Wilson, the concern is the
concept does not work with the current use.
Tjossem said every proposed site has conflicts and again she requested the two
stakeholders meet and agree on a site.
Tjossem and Foley both stated they would not support the proposed Education Center
sites listed by preference.
Ludwig made a motion to list the West Betty Ford Way site as the preferred site on the
proposed 2013 Gerald R. Ford Park Master Plan with two alternative sites which was
seconded by Moffet. The motion passed 4-2 (Foley and Tjossem opposed).
Daly opened Citizen Participation again. David Viele, Eagle River Water and Sanitation
District (ERWSD) representative, thanked Daly and Zemler for all their help on the golf
course easements. Viele stated the ERWSD easements will be discussed at the next
council meeting and asked if there were any questions he could answer now or be
prepared to answer at that meeting. Council had none.
The fifth item on the agenda was the first reading of Ordinance No. 14, Series of 2013,
an Ordinance Amending the Vail Town Code to Increase the Maximum Fine for Code
Violations in Accordance with State Law and Setting Forth Details in Regard Thereto.
Matt Mire, Town Attorney, stated this ordinance allows the municipal court to subject the
maximum fines according to State law.
Foley asked if the town uses the 1973 Model Traffic Code. Mire replied the town does
still operate under that Code due to speed limits in certain areas of the town.
Town of Vail Municipal Judge Buck Allen stated that by increasing the maximum fine
limits, it provides him leverage in cases that have restitution owed. Moffet moved to
approve with a second from Kurz. A vote was taken and the motion passed 6-0.
The sixth item on the agenda was Adjournment. There being no further business,
Foley moved, with a second from Kurz, to adjourn the evening meeting and reconvene
to the executive session, pursuant to: C.R.S. §24-6-402(4)(a)(b)(e) - to discuss the
purchase, acquisition, lease, transfer, or sale of property interests; to receive legal
Town Council Meeting Minutes of September 17, 2013 Page 4
advice on specific legal questions; and to determine positions, develop a strategy and
instruct negotiators, Regarding: Timber Ridge. The motion passed unanimously, 6-0.
The meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
Attest:
JTmmNy
N el, Acting To ^ Clerk
Respectfully Submitted,
Andrew P. Daly,ffiaYoO
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